Abstract This research aimed at developing crash helmet from musa-paradisiaca’s (plantain) fiber (MPF) as a reinforced composite material which tends to remedy the problem of heavy weight conventional metallic materials. The helmet was produced by hand lay-up method using plaster of Paris as the mould. The fiber used was extracted from a plantain pseudo-stem which was harvested in a local plantation and polyester resin was used as the matrix which was infused to reinforce the composite. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used to simulate the performance of the helmet developed. It was observed from the experiment that the plantain fibers reinforced with polyester composite exhibited superior properties which is a good alternative for the conventional materials.

1. DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF CRASH HELMET
FROM MUSA-PARADISIACA’S FIBER AS A
REINFORCED COMPOSITE
PRESENTED
BY
EMMANUEL ADEWUMI
hellisreal1@yahoo.com
(M.TECH STUDENT, INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI-110016, INDIA, )
NOVEMBER, 2019
HTTPS://DOI.ORG/10.1016/J.MATPR.2019.11.091 1

2. TE Lawrence (Lawrence of
Arabia) as a case study.
Died of head Injury, from Motor
cycle accident in (19 May 1935)
2
INTRODUCTION
Protective crash helmet becomes
important to prevent this rate.
Many people still die of head injuries due
to road accidents.

3. Desirable
properties
High
impact
strength
Very
light
weight
Cash
worthiness
Low water
absorption Compressive
strength
Availability
of raw
materials
Recyclability
3

4. % Composition of constituents
Polyester resin MPF
Cobalt Naphtanate Methyl ethyl ketone
POP Powder
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5. FABRICATION PROCEDURES:
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6. Mechanical Properties Values
Impact Energy (joules) 0.08 0.12
Impact strengths (kj/mm) 1.0 1.1
Mean strength 1.05
Average impact value (%) 4.88
Stress, σ 8.0Mpa
Axial stain, 0.1939
Transverse strain -0.03878
Modulus, E 41.3Mpa
Poisson’s ratio, ν -0.2
Water absorption (%) 7.4%
Density, ρ` 2402kg/m3
Electrical Properties
Resistance, Ω 9.83E6
Resistivity, R 8.38E8
Conductivity, S/mm 1.19E-9
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7. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION CONT’D
Comparing the results with other conventional material and
the reports on similar researches, the results of mechanical
values (Compressive strength-80MPa, Impact-10.787J/m2,
Young Modulus-4.13GPa and Ultimate tensile strength-
130MPa) obtained are closely in agreement with the work
of Shinde et al.,[15] whose helmet mechanical properties
are; Compressive strength-95, Impact strength-11.768,
Young Modulus-3.6GPa and Ultimate tensile strength-
67MPa.
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8. (A) VON MISES STRESS AT 30KN AND (B)
DISPLACEMENT AT 30 KN

9. (A) SAFETY FACTOR AT 30KN AND (B)
DISPLACEMENT AT 40KN.

10. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
MPF reinforced polyester composite was successfully explored
to fabricate a crash helmet which can be used in any
engineering industries, by motor cyclists and by the military
personnel.
MPF usage in the manufacturing of safety helmet has many
advantages as shown in the mechanical properties and also: it
is light in weight (0.63kg), it is readily available in the study
area. This application has put a check to the problem of heavy
weight conventional metallic materials.
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0

11. SUMMARY &CONCLUSION CONT’D
From the various tests carried out both from the simulation
of crash prediction, it can be concluded that
crashworthiness has been improved to a great extent due
to its good impact and compressive strength.
Recycling of waste agricultural products into usable
materials for man’s benefit and comfort was made
possible.
1
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12. REFERENCES:
[1]. Hazizan M.A., Hand lay-up, EBB 427 Application and
Technology of Engineering Polymers (Second Half), School of
Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Engineering
Campus, USM.
[2] V. Shinde, A. Desai, and S. Khan “Design And Analysis Of
Industrial Safety Helmet Using Composite Material. Journal of
Mechanical and Civil Engineering IOSR-JMCE,(2018). PP.13-16.
[3]. K. Ebisike, D. B. E. Attah, B. Babatope and S.O.O. Olusunle,
Studies on The Extraction of Naturally-Occurring Banana Fibers”
The International Journal Of Engineering And Science (IJES),
Volume, 2, Issue 9, (2013), 95-99,
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13. [4]. Okafor, C. E. and Godwin, H. C., Evaluation of compressive and
energy adsorption characteristics of plantain fiber reinforced
composites, World Journal of Engineering and physical Sciences Vol.
2 (3) (2014), pp. 036-048, Available online at
http://wsrjournals.org/journal/wjeps
[5]. R. Prasannasrinivas and D. Chandramohan, Analysis Of Natural
Fiber Reinforced Composite Material For The Helmet Outer shell - A
Review, International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 4, Issue,
03(2012), pp.137-141.
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